Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 271 - Chapitre 280

The truth was, Charlotte didn't even know how she made it back to her parents' house—though it didn't feel like her house anymore. Not even close. Her feet ached from walking. Her body felt bruised, and her head wouldn't stop pounding. Each step was heavier than the last. For a moment, she remembered what Blake had said... that he felt half-drugged. That had to be it. She must've been drugged too. It was the only thing that made sense. She quickened her pace. By the time she pushed through the gate, it was well past midnight. A few lights were still on in the house. "What is this, Charlotte?!" her mother snapped the moment she saw her. "You think you can just come and go as you please? You think you're a grown woman now, after what you did? Answer me!" "Stop it, Mom! I wasn't doing anything wrong, I was at Grandma's!" Charlotte shot back. But that only made her mother's expression twist with rage. "How dare you go bother her?" she shouted. "She's old and sick, and now y

For Lottie, as payment for her virginity. Every word flowed from Blake's pen. When the final period hit the paper, Charlotte ripped the documents into four pieces and let them fall to the floor. She walked slowly to pick up the bill and stared at it for a long, silent second. "Thanks... Goodbye, Blake." Her voice was almost gone. She couldn't say anything more. She just turned, picked up her bag from the floor, and walked out of his apartment without looking back. The knot in her throat made it almost impossible to breathe. She walked out of the building, glancing around aimlessly, then started moving in the first direction her feet would take her—because, truthfully, she had nowhere else to go. Tears streamed silently down her face as night swallowed the city around her. She hadn't eaten since... since who even knew when. Her stomach growled, but her throat was too tight to swallow anything more than water. She bought a cheap bottle of it and sat down in a nearby park, c

"You should never even consider it." The man's voice was deep and steady, full of calm wisdom and the kind of weight that only came from surviving something hard. It was the voice of someone who spoke with purpose. Who had lived what he was saying. "Never, ever give your enemies the satisfaction of watching you disappear. No one is worth your life, Charlotte. No one." The sound of her name made Charlotte jolt backward. She stared at him, wide-eyed, heart hammering. Standing in front of her was a man in his forties, with sharp lines of pain and experience etched into his face—yet he was still striking. Tall, strong, elegant... and terrifying in his intensity. There was something about him that sent a chill down her spine. "Who are you? How do you know my name? Why... why are you here?" "My name is Lawrence Dalton," he said simply. "And I'm the person who can help you." "Help me?" she asked bitterly, her voice cracking. "Really? You think anyone can help me? Tell me the tru

Blake had never in his life felt more vulnerable—or more trapped. Years of hard work, of blood, sweat, and sacrifice, were circling the drain. And it was all because of one mistake: partnering with Conrad Pierce. Now, the only thing he wanted—no, needed—was to dissolve that partnership before making any move that might help save his company. Because until he was free of his father-in-law's reckless influence, every step forward was tied to failure. With Gideon's help, he compiled every bit of information he could find on the country club being built on the outskirts of Eastshire. He'd heard about it before. He was almost certain Carly had mentioned it—probably raving about how much a membership there would cost and how much she needed one. God forbid she not have access to the places where Westcliff's elite and aristocracy mingled. But unlike his wife, Blake didn't have the luxury of lounging with champagne in silk robes. He was too busy trying to keep their lives from collapsi

Charlotte's eyes settled on him for what felt like an eternal second—long enough to make Blake's throat go dry. He had never imagined seeing her again. But even less had he imagined that the broken, weeping girl he once left sobbing on her knees... could have become this. "I know," Charlotte said with a slight smile, as if she could hear his thoughts. "The transformation is a bit jarring." Blake instinctively took a step toward her—but immediately, two sharply dressed men blocked his path like trained bodyguards. They didn't flinch until she gave them a subtle nod. Someone else stepped in to take her empty glass, and Charlotte turned effortlessly, walking toward a private booth. Blake followed, still in a daze. "I don't remember the last time someone called me Lottie," she said, her voice cool, composed. "But just for future reference... I prefer Charlotte. Or, if you ask Lawrence—Charlie." And with that, the pieces slammed into place. Blake felt fury explode in his che